THE ALCYONARIA OF THE MALDIVES. 535 



differs from the Cape specimens in form and colour. The Cape specimens are all more 

 arborescent with longer and more slender branches. 



The Maldive Island specimen in spirit is of a pale brownish-grey colour, paler on the 

 tops of the lobes than in the furrows between. The specimens from the Cape, three in 

 number, are all different in colour, one white, one red, and the third yellow. This difference 

 is due to the difference in colour of the spicules. The form and character of the spicules 

 in all cases is identical. The elliptical and opaque spicules described by Klunzinger were 

 present in the Maldive Island specimen, but I have not been able to find them in the Cape 

 specimens. 



The general and minute anatomy of all the specimens is very similar to that of 

 Alcyonium. Ova are very numerous on the mesenteries, the largest being •4.5 mm. in diameter. 

 The nutritive canal system differs from that of Sclerophytum in the absence of a special 

 transverse superficial canal system. 



The research in connection with this paper has been carried out in the Zoological 

 Laboratories of the Owens College, under the supervision of Professor Hickson, to whom I 

 am greatly indebted for much valuable assistance and advice. 



My thanks are also due to Professor Herdman in allowing me to examine his valuable 

 collection of Alcyonidae from Ceylon. 



VII. LITERATURE. 



1833. QuOY ET Gaimard. Voyage de V Astrolabe, Tome IV. (Zoologie), Paris. 



1834. Eheenberg, C. G. Die Corallthiere des Rothen Meeres. 



1848. Dana, J. D. "Zoophytes," Unit. St. Expl. Exped. 



1877. Klunzinger, C. B. Die Koralltkiere des Rothen Meeres; erster Theil, "Die 

 Alcyonarien und Malacodermen." Berlin, 1877. 



1881. MosELEY, H. N. Challenger Reports. Zoology. Vol. ii. Corals (" Heliopora and 

 Sarcophyton"). 



1883. Hickson, S. J. " On the Ciliated Groove (Siphonoglyi^h) in the Stomodaeum of 



the Alcyonarians." Phil. Trans. Part in. 



1884. Wilson^ E. B. "The Mesenterial Filaments of the Alcyonaria." Mitt. Zool. Stat. 



Neap. V. 



1886. Marenzeller, C. von. " Ueber die Sarcophytum bennanten Alcyoniiden." Zool. 

 Jahrb. L, Jena, 1886. 



1889. Wright, C. P., and Studer, T. H. Challenger Reports. Zoology. Vol. xxxi. 

 Alcyonaria. 



1889. Famintzin, A. " Beitrag zur Symbiose von Algen und Thieren." Mdm. de I'Acad. 

 Imp. des Sci. St Pe'tersbourg, Ser. vii. 



